Wheel guard for vehicles



Jan. 19 1926.

R. WADE WHEEL GUARD FOR VEHICLES Filed August 18 1924 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES nor warm, or POCATELLO, IDAHO.

WHEEL GUARD FOR VEHICLES.

Application filed August 18, 1924. Serial No. 732,827.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY WADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pocatello, in the county I of Bannock and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wheel Guards for Vehlcles, of which the following is a specification.

This invent-ion pertains to that class of cars commonly known as section cars, used on railways by inspectors, construction and repair men, and others, for making relatively short trips, such cars being now commonly equipped with an internal combustion engine for their propulsion. 7

It is desirable that cars of this class be comparatively light, strong, easily placed upon and removed from the rails, and adapted to carry a considerable number of workmen, various tools and implements, repair materials, etc, safely and conveniently. T he present invention is directed to the attainment of these ends.

The invention will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a car embodying my improved construction; 7

Fig. 2, a top plan view of one s1d e of the car, showing the wheel guard which constitutes a leading feature of the inventlon;

Fig. 3, an end View of the same, showing the side sill, upper side bar, and one of the brackets by which the wheel guard is supported; and V Figs. 4; and 5, top plan and side face or edge views respectively of one of the sprayguards.

The car is preferably entirely of steel or iron, of common structural forms and hence readily obtainable, and the framing may be varied at will. In practice, however, I preferably employ two main side sills 1 of channel iron, usually about eight feet in length, and say, three inches by one inch and a half, and one quarter inch in thickness, though these dimensions may be varied as desired, or according to special uses or conditions. These side sills are connected at or near their ends by cross members 2, 2, which may be of like cross section, and of a length variable according to the gage of the track and consequent width of the frame, usually slightly less than the distance between the inside faces of wheels at opposite ends of the same axle. The side and end sills are conof the joint.

nected in any suitable way as, for instance, by angle plates, or by angle iron standards or uprights 3, bolted or riveted to the sills. A cross rod or bar 4: is provided at each end of the car, to afford convenient hand-holds for lifting the car to or from the rails, or

pushing it'along the track without starting the engine.

Intermediate longitudinal or cross members, or both, may be provided if deemed necessary, and a suitable metal floor will be added. A side bar 5 is arranged above each sill 1, and bolted to the uprights 3. 'Bolted or otherwise secured to the side sills and to the side bars 5 above the same are brackets 6 of an inverted L-form, three being shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These brackets are conveniently formed of angle steel'or iron, of say 1 by 1 inches in cross section, and a quarter inch in thickness. They may advantageously be made about nine inches in height, with a horizontal arm of five and one-half inches, approximately, though these dimensions are variable at will. By cutting out a 90 degree section of one web or flange and bending at a right angle, a miter joint can be formed in the flange cut, and the cut edges can be simply abutted, welded, or tied together by a plate lapping the joint, and riveted or bolted on each side Cast metal brackets may be employed, but the construction described is deemed best. Each bracket 6 is securely bolted to the sill 1 and to the side bar 5 above it, and these parts will mutually sustain one another.

Extending over the top faces of the horizontal arms of the brackets 6, parallel with the sills and side bars and with one another, are arranged several bars 7 of inch half-round steel or iron, spaced about one inch apart, and riveted. to each of the brackets. These bars tie together and brace the several brackets, which are further braced and stayed by an outer rail or member 8 of inch angle steel or iron of one inch by one inch face, or flange measurement. This outer or rail member is'rounded at its ends as are the top arms of the outer brackets, and the rail and bracket are connected both by rivets and by welding thus making a very strong and rigid connection.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, these structures constitute at once wheel guards and foot rests or supports for a considerable number of navvies or passengers, it being usual to provide a seat extending longitudinally of the car at its inidwidth, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The slatted construc tion of the wheel guards enables occupants of the car to observe the wheels 9 directly beneath, and to note any indication that any one of the wheels is working off its axle, as sometimes occurs, and to observe the condition of the rails over which the car runs.

To guard passengers against water or spray thrown off by the flanges of the wheels, spray guards 10 are provided. These are quite narrow, since only the flange need be covered. They are curved to form arcs of a circle of slightly greater radius than the wheel rims, and are provided with ears 11 to receive bolts 12 by which they are secured to the side sills 1. Being relatively short, and extending but little beyond the wheel flanges, they do not interfere appreciably with observance of the wheels.

Depending metal guards 13, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, may be carried by the outer rails 8 to prevent contact with the wheels, but these are not deemed essential.-

Their use is optional.

It is of course understood that the dimensions above suggested may all be varied according to judgment or conditions, though those given are found quite satisfactory in actual use.

The combined wheel guards and foot rests serve a very useful purpose in utilizing space otherwise unused or unavailable, being abundantly strong to support the Weight of passengers in boarding and in leaving the car, and offering a safe and convenient rest for the feet when the car is under Way.

I claim 1. In combination with a Wheeled car or vehicle, a wheel guard carried by the body of the car and overlying the wheels, said guard being composed of a plurality of bars or slats, separated to permit observance of the wheels beneath it.

In combination with a wheeled car or vehicle, a combined wheel guard and foot rest, comprising brackets secured to the body of the car and projecting from the side thereof; and a plurality of narrow bars extending over and secured to said brackets with spaces between them through which the wheels and roadway may be observed.

3. In combination with a vehicle as set forth in claim 2, spray guards carried by the body of the vehicle and overlying the flanges of the wheels.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROY l/VADE. 

